Large-capacity vehicle for transporting people, especially a rail vehicle, comprising carriages that are connected in an articulated manner

ABSTRACT

A large-capacity vehicle is disclosed for transporting people, especially a rail vehicle. The vehicle includes carriages that are coupled by articulated connections, at least two of the carriages being respectively supported on a bogie or the undercarriage. All of the articulated connections enable the carriages to perform a turning movement about the vertical axis during cornering. For a vehicle that has more than three parts, at least one articulated connection is embodied in such a way that the vehicle can carry out pitching motions about the transversal axis in the event of dumping or tipping. One of the articulated connections includes a connection element that is embodied and connected to two carriages in such a way that pivoting and rolling motions can be carried out about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/EP2004/008823 which has anInternational filing date of Aug. 6, 2004, which designated the UnitedStates of America and which claims priority on German Patent Applicationnumber 103 43 536.0 filed Sep. 19, 2003, the entire contents of whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The invention generally relates to a large-capacity vehicle fortransporting people, for example a rail vehicle. For example, it mayrelate to one which has carriages (such as car bodies, for example)which are coupled by articulated connections, at least two carriages ofwhich are respectively supported on a bogie or set of running gear(undercarriage), wherein all the articulated connections permit turningmovements of the carriages about the vertical axis when cornering.Further, in a vehicle which has more than three parts, at least onearticulated connection is embodied in such a way that the vehicle cancarry out pitching movements about the transversal axis when travelingthrough a depression or over an elevation.

BACKGROUND

In the periodical Der Nahverkehr [Local Transportation], No. 6/1996,pages 48 to 53, an innovative shell construction for a modular tramvehicle is described. In the four-part prototype vehicle which is shownin FIG. 2 of this reference a car body which is configured in the mannerof a bridge (central module) is connected in an articulated fashion totwo carriages which are each supported on a dual-axle set of runninggear (dual-axle running gear modules). The prototype vehicle also has acar body which rests on a single-axle set of running gear (single-axlerunning gear module).

The lower articulated connections include vehicle joints which can movein a spherical fashion and are rigidly connected to the carriages bybrackets. These lower joints, which are disclosed as an assembly in, forexample, DE 101 39 970 A1, permit pivoting movements and in theory alsopitching and rolling movements. The first embodiment of the above jointswhich is arranged between the central module and the two dual-axlerunning gear modules in the prototype vehicle only permit a pivotingmovement about the vertical axis (z axis).

A second embodiment of the above joint which is arranged between the carbody with the single-axle running gear module and the central module inthe prototype also permits the vehicle to carry out a pitching movementabout the transversal axis when traveling through a depression or overan elevation. With this second embodiment of the joints, the carriagesare connected by way of a transversal connector which acts on arespective bracket of the two carriages.

In the modular vehicle explained above and also in other so-calledmulti-joint vehicles—see in this respect the periodical Railway Gazette2003, pages 57 to 64, for example FIG. 4 “Dresden NGTD 6”, FIG. 6“Citadis” and FIG. 7 “Cityrunner”—joints are therefore used which permiteither only pivoting of the carriages about the vertical axis orpivoting and pitching of the carriages about the vertical axis or aboutthe transversal axis. In certain track situations (such as in particularelevations in the track in bends or twists in the track) torsion mayoccur in the carriages resulting in high stresses on the structure ofthe carriages. Even if the carriages are dimensioned to cope with thesehigh stresses, overloading and damage to the car body structures whentraveling cannot be ruled out.

At least one embodiment the invention is therefore based on an object ofembodying a large-capacity vehicle with the generic features in thesimplest possible way such that overloading and damage to the car bodystructures are reliably avoided in all track situations.

An object may be achieved according to at least one embodiment of theinvention in such a way that one of the articulated connections has aconnecting element which is embodied and connected to two carriages insuch a way that pivoting and rolling movements about the longitudinalaxis of the vehicle are made possible. The connecting element can beembodied as a rigid connector rod and can be connected to the twocarriages via ball and socket joints. Alternatively, it is possible toconnect the connecting element as a twistable connector rod and toconnect it to the two carriages via single-axle joints.

Since, according to at least one embodiment of the invention, one of thearticulated connections permits a pivoting and rolling movement of thecarriages, the wagon bodies are advantageously not subjected to anytorsional stress which could cause damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference toexample embodiments which are each illustrated in their basic form inthe drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show two carriages of a rail vehicle with a firstembodiment of the articulated connection according to the invention.FIG. 1 shows the neutral position, FIG. 2 shows a pure rolling movementand FIG. 3 shows a pure pivoting movement.

FIG. 4 shows two carriages of a rail vehicle with a second embodiment ofthe articulated connection according to the invention in a neutralposition.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 each show different embodiments and arrangements of acomponent for limiting the rolling movements using the example of thefirst embodiment of the articulated connection according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The carriages 6, 7 are preferably components of a rail vehicle which isof modular design and has, for example, a total of three, five or morecarriages. The car body 6 can be supported on a bogie or set of runninggear, while the car body 7 is embodied in the manner of a bridge and isborne by the supported car body 6 and a further supported car body (6)which is arranged to the right of the bridge-like car body 7 in theplane of the drawing in FIGS. 1 to 7. However it is also conceivable tosupport all the carriages on bogies or sets of running gear.

All the carriages of the multi-part rail vehicle are coupled by way ofarticulated connections which permit turning movements of the carriagesabout the vertical axis when the vehicle travels through a bend. In arail vehicle which has more than three parts, at least one articulatedconnection is embodied in such a way that the vehicle can carry outpitching movements about the transversal axis when traveling through adepression or over an elevation. So that rolling movements of thecarriages 6, 7 about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle are alsopermitted, the articulated connection shown has a connecting element 2which, according to FIGS. 1 to 3 and 4 to 7, is embodied as a rigidconnector rod and is connected to the two carriages 6, 7 by way of balland socket joints 3, 4.

In the alternative embodiment which is shown in FIG. 4, the connectingelement 2 is embodied as a twistable connector rod and is connected tothe two carriages 6, 7 by use of single-axle joints 8, 9. In the lowerregion, the carriages 6, 7 are coupled by use of a vehicle joint 1 whichcan move in a spherical fashion. One of the rotational axes which isformed by the ball and socket joints 3, 4 or by the single-axle joints8, 9 and the rotational axis of the vehicle joint 1 preferably lie onthe same vertical axis 10. As a result of this, satisfactory pivotingabout the vertical axis is possible.

The rolling movement is basically limited by the length of theconnecting element 2. However, it is recommended to limit the rollingmovements by a component 5 which has a damping function and includes thefunction of a stop. Furthermore, the component 5 can have aspring-loading function. According to FIG. 5, the component 5 acts onthe two carriages 6, 7. According to FIGS. 6 and 7, the component 5 canalso be arranged in such a way that it acts on one of the carriages 6, 7at one end, and on one of the ball and socket joints 3, 4 at the other.The arrangements, shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, of the component 5 which limitsthe rolling movements can readily be transferred to the secondembodiment of the articulated connection according to at least oneembodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIG. 4.

Example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that thesame may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regardedas a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, andall such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art areintended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A large-capacity vehicle for transportingpeople, comprising: carriages coupled by lower articulated connectionsand by upper articulated connections, at least two carriages beingrespectively supported on at least one of a bogie and set of runninggear, both the lower articulated connections and the upper articulatedconnections permitting turning movements of the carriages about thevertical axis when cornering, the vehicle including more than threeparts, wherein at least one upper articulated connection is embodied insuch a way that the vehicle can carry out pitching movements about atransverse axis when traveling through a depression or over anelevation, one of the upper articulated connections including aconnecting element embodied and connected to the at least two carriagesconfigured to permit pivoting and rolling movements about a longitudinalaxis of the vehicle, wherein the connecting element of the upperarticulated connection is embodied as a rigid connector rod and isconnected to the two carriages via ball and socket joints.
 2. Thelarge-capacity vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rollingmovements are limited by a component including a damping function. 3.The large-capacity vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the componentincludes the function of a stop.
 4. The large-capacity vehicle asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the component has a spring loading function.5. The large-capacity vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein thecomponent limits the rolling movements acting on the two carriages. 6.The large-capacity vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the componentlimits the rolling movements acting on the carriages at one end, andlimits the rolling movements acting on at least one of the ball andsocket joints and a single-axis joint at the other end.
 7. Thelarge-capacity vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the component hasa spring loading function.
 8. The large-capacity vehicle as claimed inclaim 7, wherein the component limits the rolling movements acting onthe two carriages.
 9. The large-capacity vehicle as claimed in claim 7,wherein the component limits the rolling movements acting on thecarriages at one end, and limits the rolling movements acting on atleast one of the ball and socket joints and a single-axle joint at theother end.
 10. The large-capacity vehicle as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe component limits the rolling movements acting on the two carriages.11. The large-capacity vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein thecomponent limits the rolling movements acting on the carriages at oneend, and limits the rolling movements acting on at least one of the balland socket joints and a single-axle joint at the other end.
 12. Thelarge-capacity vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rotational axisformed by at least one of the ball and socket joints and single-axisjoints of the upper articulated joint and a rotational axis of the lowervehicle joint, movable in a spherical fashion and arranged centrally ata vertical distance between the carriages, lie on the same verticalaxis.
 13. A large-capacity vehicle for transporting people, comprising:carriages coupled by lower articulated connections and by upperarticulated connections, at least two carriages being respectivelysupported on at least one of a bogie and set of running gear, both thelower articulated connections and the upper articulated connectionspermitting turning movements of the carriages about the vertical axiswhen cornering, the vehicle including more than three parts, wherein atleast one upper articulated connection is embodied in such a way thatthe vehicle can carry out pitching movements about a transverse axiswhen traveling through a depression or over an elevation, one of theupper articulated connections including a connecting element embodiedand connected to the at least two carriages configured to permitpivoting and rolling movements about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle,wherein the connecting element of the upper articulated connection isembodied as a rigid connector rod and is connected to the two carriagesvia ball and socket joints and the connecting element of the upperarticulated connection is embodied as a twistable connector rod and isconnected to the two carriages via single-axle joints.
 14. Thelarge-capacity vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein a rotational axisformed by at least one of the ball and socket joints and the single-axlejoints of the upper articulated joint and a rotational axis of the lowervehicle joint, movable in a spherical fashion and arranged centrally ata vertical distance between the carriages, lie on the same verticalaxis.
 15. The large-capacity vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein therolling movements are limited by a component including a dampingfunction.
 16. A large-capacity vehicle for transporting people,comprising: a plurality of carriages coupled to one another by lowerarticulated connections and by upper articulated connections, the lowerarticulated connections and the upper articulated connections beingconfigured to permit turning movements of the plurality of carriagesabout a vertical axis, wherein at least one upper articulated connectionis configured to permit the vehicle to carry out pitching movementsabout a transverse axis, and is configured to permit pivoting androlling movements about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, wherein aconnecting element of the upper articulated connection is embodied as arigid connector rod and is connected to the two carriages via ball andsocket joints.
 17. A large-capacity vehicle for transporting people,comprising: a plurality of carriages coupled to one another by lowerarticulated connections and by upper articulated connections, the lowerarticulated connections and the upper articulated connections beingconfigured to permit turning movements of the plurality of carriagesabout a vertical axis, wherein at least one upper articulated connectionis configured to permit the vehicle to carry out pitching movementsabout a transverse axis, and is configured to permit pivoting androlling movements about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and aconnecting element of the upper articulated connection is embodied as atwistable connector rod and is connected to the two carriages viasingle-axle joints.